Lana is 6

Oh this girl has grown up so much! She has just finished up kindergarten and will be entering first grade in a few short weeks. I can't believe a whole school year has come and gone. She definitely has grown in some confidence and in skills. She has a variety of friends and cares a lot about them. She even started splitting her two recesses in the day between her athletic friends and her friends that liked to play pretend. I went on her zoo field trip and it was fun to see her hang with some of the boys in her class and run and play rough with them. It also made me realize how much she accommodates/regulates during the school day and why she seems so tired when she gets home. :)

Lana still very much wants to be a part of whatever is going on. It has been fun to be around when she has discovered that she doesn't hate alone time. She sat on the deck a few weeks back and when she came in she declared that she liked it so much. She is the leader of the crew when she plays with Knox and Greta and the follower when she's with the big kids. She and Haddie have a bunk bed now, so that's been a huge hit and they take turns being on the top bunk. 

Lana loves creating anything- she is a really talented artist. She also loves reading and did the sweetest thing- she started reading Little House in the Big Woods, and although i don't think she is reading every word, she does have a book mark to keep her place. She's also very strong and is proud of being a strong and fast girl. She played soccer this spring and t-ball this summer. She also has enjoyed swimming this summer. She's just growing up! She loves playing Barbies and Lego especially with a sibling. Lana also started piano this year and still loves dancing, just not in dance class this year.

Love you so much, Lana Mae! 

Knox is 4

What a kid! Knox is 4, and has been for nearly 3 months so high time for documenting his little personality as best I can. 

Knox shares a room with his little sister now. He's so sweet with her at night and if he gets out of bed and I tell him "Greta needs you", that's usually enough to get him back to his room. He is sweet with her- until he isn't- but really he takes care of her. 

Knox is often in his own little world having his own little conversations. I love watching him when he is doing this. Brent and I usually look at each other like- don't you wonder what's going on in there? He sings a lot and remembers his Bible verses from church really well. He seems to pick up on things very quickly. And when you think he isn't listening, he definitely is. 

It's been no secret that Knox walks to the beat of his own drum. We have been extremely humbled in our parenting with him. Our job is still the same, but our methods have shifted and changed and our pride really has no part in it. That's God's grace, no doubt, but it isn't always fun to fall flat on your face. But the successes are extra sweet with this one. Also, he is incredibly sweet- he compliments and cheers for everyone. It really is something as Knox grows in his communication skills how God really made him to see things Brent and I aren't wired to see- like in a beautiful and slowed down way. 

Knox loves the color red, and blue and purple, and gold, and...you get the picture. He likes to go to the wellness center with Mom. He likes to play Lego, Barbies, trading cards, hot wheels, puzzles, read books, ride his scooter and just be where everyone else is. He has a few chores he helps with and it has been fun to watch him grow in his independence. Just today, he was to pick up his room- I usually have him get started on his own and then see where he needs some guidance or help. Today, I walked in to him making his bed- what a nice surprise. 

He loves to pray and sometimes will just start praying once we've sat down to eat- he thanks God for our house and church and Mabel almost every time he prays. Mabel is his second cousin and just adores her. We're pretty confident he's a lefty- he still sometimes uses his right hand to write. We made him use a left handed glove when he played t-ball this summer. T-ball, did he play? Well not exactly- but he did keep his jersey/shirt on and the last game he played the whole time. I think we may forget to sign up next year, but may try the following year with Greta. 

We only have one more year at home before Knox goes to kindergarten. I anticipate that day to be a tough one for me. I tell people Knox and I have been to war together, so every step forward is because of a battle won and a step forward into enemy territory. I say it with a smile and laugh, but there's some truth to it too. I am confident Knox will be a world changer- no doubt in my mind- i just can't wait to see what God has for him. 

Micah is 10

Well it's 3 months after Micah's birthday so high time I write this. :) 

Micah wrapped up his 4th grade year and ended it well. He played soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball this summer. He really loves sports and has deepened his love for the Cowboys and trading cards this year. Micah continues to be creative and this Halloween he made his own costume- he was an Emmit Smith rookie card! It was quite a project and he proudly wore it to school. He's a whiz at math and really loves the social aspect of school. He also started guitar and piano lessons this summer and had a solo in his spring concert this year. 

Micah is a helper and likes to see things that need attention and do them on his own. He would much rather do that than be given a job. He's a good helper that way too, but it gives him a lot of joy to do things on his own. He has helped with hay this summer- he's on the verge of being able to buck a bale, but not quite. He can get a couple and can team lift with Eli. But he's also found he can encourage and fill water bottles when we unload the bales in the barn. It's been fun watching him figure out his role. 

I've said it before, but Micah is good at noticing people and understanding or trying to understand them. We really love watching this develop as he grows older- God made him this way and we love seeing it in action. This last year we went to a Rend Collective concert and as they typically do they promoted a ministry- Compassion- and talked about this group of kids who needed sponsors. They asked if you wanted to sponsor a kid and Micah's had shot right up. If his face could have spoke what he was feeling, I think it would have sounded like "why wouldn't we?" So a little girl named Jaralee chose Micah as her sponsor and we get to pray for her and be a small part of her life. It's been very sweet and a good depiction of Micah's heart for people. 

Micah's alopecia areata has cleared up fully. We are thankful for that. Because it is an autoimmune disease, it could make another appearance in Micah's future. We are thankful for the lessons it taught us and are thankful for a reprieve from its affects. 

For his 10th birthday, he, Eli and Dad went to an OKC Thunder game.

Micah Scott, we love you so much. We can't believe you're going into your last year of elementary school! Keep walking with Jesus- you can trust Him.